The Port Moresby Nature Park (formerly the National Botanic Gardens), set on the outskirts of Papua New Guinea’s capital, is a great spot for those who, like me, are keen to espy some of PNG’s rare and elusive native fauna.

Port Moresby Nature Park

Sepik totems, Port Moresby Nature Park. Photo credit: Benjamin White

The grounds feature a mix of native flora in its natural setting, alongside exotics contained in manicured parkland. Scattered about the Nature Park are cultural items representing the various districts of Papua New Guinea.

Raggiana Bird of Paradise

Start with the national emblem: the Raggiana bird of paradise. If you’re lucky you’ll see the male clapping its wings and displaying for a female. The Raggiana bird of paradise is featured on the national flag, and its local name, the Kumul, is shared by the national rugby league team.

Victoria Crowned Pigeon

The Victoria Crowned Pigeon, named in honour of the British monarch, is endemic to Papua New Guinea. They are a gregarious species, often seen together in pairs or small groups, searching the forest floor for fallen fruit.

Southern Cassowary

The Southern Cassowary is the largest of the cassowary, and can be found in Queensland, Australia, as well as across Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. It is the third heaviest bird in the world (after the Common Ostrich and Somali Ostrich).

Huon Tree Kangaroo

Another marsupial, the Huon Tree Kangaroo, named so because it is found on the Huon Peninsula of PNG, sleeps for around 14 to 15 hours a day. They move slowly and sedately like a sloth, but are expert jumpers, able to make leaps of up to nine metres between branches.

Black Flying Fox

Last but not least, and present throughout the Nature Park in vast numbers: Black Flying Foxes. These bats are eaten by various communities in PNG, which is a little worrying as they are known to be a host of Lyssavirus, Hendra Virus, and Menangle Virus.

A nice thought to leave you with 🙂

Practical information and how to reach Port Moresby Nature Park:

Port Moresby has an international airport with flights to cities in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and various South Pacific islands. The Nature Park is on the outskirts of the city, and is easily reached by taxi (make sure you use the services of a reputable taxi company). More transport info here.

When I visited the Nationa Botanic Garden years ago the animals were confined in tiny enclosures. The tree kangaroos especially looked at me with pleading eyes. I hope this situation has has improved with recent investments in the ‘nature reserve’.

I think the enclosures have improved dramatically since you were there. The tree kangaroos in particular are now kept in large walk-through aviaries. Only the saltwater crocodile and hornbill were in noticeably-too-small cages. And the cassowary have enormous enclosures but still looked sad – I think this is because they are species that walk long distances every day and don’t take well to zoos.

Benjamin White

Benjamin White is a long, long, long term traveller. He has spent 6 of the last 12 years backpacking, travelling, working and living abroad, primarily in developing and underdeveloped countries. He travelled through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan in 2015. The first half of 2016 was spent travelling through Peru, Colombia, and Central America; the second half spent living on a small island in Papua New Guinea called Daru. In 2017 he achieved one of his lifetime goals when he entered his 100th country. Lifetime goal accomplished, he now plans to take time off to travel.